Coil winding apparatus



Aug. 22, 1967 G. B. KECK COIL WINDING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledApril 9, 1965 INVENTOE QBKE mm BY (1 C ATTO'ENE:

Aug. 22, 1967 G. B. KECK c011. WINDING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledApril 9, 1965 3,337,145 COIL WINDING APPARATUS George B. Keck, WesternSprings, Ill., assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, NewYork, N.Y.. a corporation of New York Filed Apr. 9, 1965, Ser. No.446,952

7 Claims. (Cl. 242-355) v ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus forwinding material onto spools wherein a plurality of arbor members aresupported for rotation about an axis and for relative axial movementtherebetween to receive and support spools between adjacent ones of themembers and to effect a driving connection with the spools for rotationof the spools together in response to rotation of the end arbor memberby a selectively operable drive therefor.

This invention relates to a coil winding apparatus, and moreparticularly to an apparatus for winding coils simultaneously on aplurality of coil supporting forms.

Heretofore, as far as is known, coils supported on a particular type ofindividual coil supporting form, such as spools having iron corestherein, were wound one at a time. Manifestly, this method of windingspool supported coils individually is time consuming and ineflicient.

An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus forwinding simultaneously a plurality of coils on individual coilsupporting forms.

An apparatus illustrating certain features of the invention forsimultaneously winding coils on a plurality of spools may include amotor-driven headstock supported in a frame for rotation about ahorizontal axis. The headstock has a seat for receiving and supportingone end of a spool for rotation about the axis and for effecting adriving connection therewith. Supported movably on a slide of the framebelow the axis are brackets in each of which a coupling member ismounted for rotation about the axis and for axial movement with thebracket. One end of the coupling member is provided with a seat forsupporting the other end of the spool and effecting a driving connectiontherewith.

The opposite end of the coupling member is provided with a seat forsupporting the first end of another spool and effecting a drivingengagement therewith. Several of such brackets and spool supportingcoupling members may be provided to support a plurality of spools in arow in interconnected relation to one another. A tailstock is supportedon the frame for rotation about the axis and for supporting the otherend of the last spool of the row of spools. By means of a lever, thetailstock is moved toward the headstock to an operative position toeffect the clamping of the spools between the headstock, the couplingmembers, and the tailstock for rotation together in response to rotationof the headstock.

Other objects, advantages and novel aspects of the invention will becomeapparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the coil windingmechanism embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational sectional view of a coil supporting spoolof a type on which a coil is to be wound in the present apparatus;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the coil shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan sectional view of the apparatustaken on the line 44 of FIG. 1;

United States Patent Referring to the drawings, the present apparatus isdesigned to wind simultaneously a plurality of coils on coil supportingforms such as composite spools 12. Each composite spool 12 comprises adielectric spool 13 having a sleeve 14 and round and square heads 15 and16, respectively, at opposite ends of the sleeve, and an iron core 18supported within the sleeve and with the ends of the core projectingslightly beyond the spool. A plurality of terminals 20 are secured tothe square head 16 and extend therefrom in a direction parallel with theaxis of the spool. The round spool head 15 has an aperture 22 formedtherein.

The coil winding apparatus comprises a drive shaft 25 which is supportedin a frame 26 for rotation about a horizontal axis 28 and is driven by amotor 30. Secured to the drive shaft 25 is a headstock 32 which servesas a holder for supporting the terminal end of a composite spool 12 forrotation about the axis 28. The headstock has an axially directed shank34 at the end of which is formed a circular flange 36. The flange isprovided with a recessed seat 38 having a square portion 39 forreceiving the square head 16 of the spool and establishing a drivingconnection therebetween and having a portion 40 for receiving theprojecting end of the core 18. In addition, the flange is provided withclearance apertures 41 for receiving the terminals 20 of the spool 12.

The opposite end of the spool is supported in a seat 44 of a holder orcoupling member 46. The coupling member is supported in a ball bearing48 and is mounted therewith in a vertically disposed portion of anadjustable L-shaped bracket 50. The lower portion 51 of the bracket isprovided with a dovetail slot 52 (FIG. 5) and is mounted on a dovetailguide 53 for horizontal movement parallel to the axis 28. The guide 53is fixedly mounted on a spacer 54 which is secured to a horizontalportion 55 of the frame 26.

The coupling member 46, in the recessed seat portion 44 thereof, isprovided with a projecting pin 58 (FIG. 4) which engages in the aperture22 of the round head 15 of the composite spool 12 for eifecting adriving connection therewith. At the opposite end thereof, the couplingmember 46 has a shank portion 60 extending axially from the bracket 50,and has a circular flange 62 formed on the end of the shank similar tothe flange 36 on the headstock 32. In like manner, the coupling member46 is provided with a recessed seat 64 for receiving the square spoolhead 16 and effecting a driving connection therewith and for receivingthe end portion of the core 18, and is also provided with apertures 66for receiving the terminals 20.

A plurality of the adjustable brackets 50 and coupling members 46 isprovided for supporting a plurality of the spools 12 between adjacentones of the coupling members 46.

A tailstock 68 is provided which has a recessed seat 69 for receivingthe head 15 and end portion of the core 18 of the spool 12 and whichcooperates with the adjacent coupling member 46 to support the lastspool of the row of spools. The tailstock has a spindle 70 and ismounted therewith in a sleeve 72 for rotation and against axial movementrelative thereto. The sleeve 72, in turn, is mounted for axial movementin the bore of a cylindrical shell 74 and is stressed for movementtoward the headstock 28 to a normal position against a ledge 75 of theshell by a spring 76 interposed between a threaded plug 77 in the shelland the sleeve 72. The shell is supported 89 for limited axial movementin a bore 79 of a supporting bracket 80 which is fixedly secured to theframe 26.

Mechanism under control of an operating lever 81 is provided forimparting axial movement to the cylindrical shell 74 to move thetailstock 68 to and from an advanced position in engagement with the endspool of a row of spools (FIG. 1) and a retracted position (FIG. 4). Ashaft 82 is connected to and supports the lever 81 for pivotal movementon the supporting bracket 80 and has a crank disc 83 secured thereto. Acrank pin 84 on the disc 82 has a roller 85 thereon which rides in avertical slot 86 in the cylindrical shell for imparting axial movementof the shell and the tailstock in response to actuation of the lever.

As the lever 81 is moved to its operative position and the tailstock 68is moved into engagement with the endmost spool 12, the spring 76 iscompressed and stresses the tailstock toward the headstock 32 to effectthe movement of the spools 12 and the spool supporting members; namely,the headstock 32, the coupling members 46, and the tailstock 68, intoengagement with one another, and .the clamping of the spools 12 betweenadjacent ones of the spool supporting members for rotation together.

A handwheel 88 is secured to the drive shaft adjacent the headstock formanual adjustment thereof to facilitate the placement of the spools 12in winding position in the apparatus.

In the operation of winding coils onto the spools 12, each of the spoolsto be wound has the leading end of a wire 78 (FIG. 1) from a supplythereof attached to a terminal 20 of the spool and wound partiallyaround the spool sleeve and secured thereto adjacent the square head 16by suitable means such as adhesive tape. It will be understood that thefirst bracket 50 has been moved previously to the left as viewed in FIG.1 to provide clearance for the placement of the first spool 12 into thewinding apparatus. The first spool is moved so as to insert theterminals 20 into the apertures 41 in the flange 36 of the headstock andto place the square head 16 and end of the core 18 in the seat 38 of theheadstock and thereby establish a driving connection therewith. With thespool 12 held in alignment with the axis 28, the adjacent bracket 50 ismoved toward the headstock to bring the coupling member 46 intoengagement with the spool 12 and effect the nesting of the round spoolhead 15 and core end in the seat 44 of the coupling member 46 and theinsertion of the pin 58 in the recess 22 of the spool head 15. The spool12 is thereby interconnected with and supported by the headstock 32 andcoupling member 46 for rotation therewith about the axis 28.

Thereafter, the terminal end of successive spools 12 are inserted in theseat 64 of successive coupling members 46 and the cooperative adjacentbrackets 50 are moved into engagement with the opposite end of thespools to effect the support and interconnection of the several spools12 and coupling members 46. After the terminal end of the last spool hasbeen nested in the seat 64 of the last coupling member 46, the lever 81is moved to operative position to effect movement of the tailstock 68 tothe advanced position in nesting engagement with the other end of thespool 12, and the compression of the spring 76 of the tailstock tomaintain the spools 12 and the spool supporting members 32, 46 and 68 ininterconnected relation to one another during the coil windingoperation.

On completion of the winding of the row of coils, the lever 81 is movedto its starting position to effect the return of the tailstock 68 to itsretracted position in disengaged relation to the endmost spool 12 andpermit the removal of successive ones of the wound coils from theapparatus.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are simplyillustrative of the application of the principles of this invention.Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised by those skilled inthe art which will embody the principles of the invention and fallwithin the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for winding material on spools, which compromises:

a plurality of spool supporting members;

means for mounting said members for rotation about an axis and forrelative axial movement therebetween, the opposing end portions ofadjacent ones of said members having means for supporting an end portionof a spool in coaxial alignment with said axis and for effecting adriving engagement therewith so that the spools maybe placed between andsupported by adjacent members and interconnected thereby for rotationtogether with said spool supporting members;

means for holding said members and the spools in interconnectedrelationship for rotation together; and

means for rotating one of said members to impart rotation to all of saidmembers and the spools supported thereby.

2. An apparatus for winding material on spools, which comprises:

a plurality of spool supporting members;

means for mounting said members for rotation about an axis and forrelative axial movement between said members, the opposing end portionsof adjacent ones of said members having means for supporting a spool incoaxial alignment with said axis and effecting a driving engagement withthe spool so that the spools may be placed between and supported byadjacent ones of said members and interconnected thereby for rotationtogether;

resilient means for stressing said members axially toward one anotherinto engagement with the spools therebetween for rotation of saidmembers and the spools together; and

means for rotating one of said members to impart rotation to all of saidmembers and the spools supported thereby.

3. A coil winding apparatus, which comprises:

a rotatable first member having means at one end thereof for supportingfor rotation therewith one end of a first spool on which material is tobe wound;

a rotatable second member having means at one end thereof for supportingfor rotation therewith the other end of the first spool and having meansat the other end thereof for supporting for rotation therewith one endof a second spool;

a rotatable third member having means at one end thereof for supportingfor rotation therewith the other end of the second spool;

means for supporting said members for rotation about an axis and forrelative axial movement between said members to permit the first and thesecond spools to be placed between and supported by adjacent ones ofsaid members;

means for moving said third member axially toward said first member toeffect relative movement between said members and the spoolstherebetween into interconnected relationship for rotation of all ofsaid members and the spools together; and

means for rotating one of said members to impart rotation to saidmembers and the spools.

4. An apparatus for winding material on spools, which comprises:

a rotatable first member having means at one end thereof for supportingone end of a first spool;

a rotatable second member having means at one end thereof for supportingthe other end of the first spool and having means at the other endthereof for supporting one end of a second spool;

a rotatable third member having means at one end thereof for supportingthe other end of the second spool;

means for supporting said members for rotation about an axis and forrelative movement between said members to permit the first and thesecond spools to be placed between and supported by adjacent ones ofsaid members;

means for stressing said third member toward said first member to gripthe spools between said members and be interconnected thereby forrotation of all of said members and the spools; together; and

means for rotating one of said members to impart rotation to saidmembers and the spools.

5. An apparatus for winding coils on a plurality of spools, whichcomprises:

a first member mounted for rotation about an axis and against axialmovement and having means at one end for supporting one end of a spoolfor rotation therewith;

a plurality of second members mounted for rotation about said axis andfor axial movement toward and from one another and said first member,each of said second members having means at each end thereof forsupporting one end of a spool for rotation therewith;

a third member mounted for rotation about the axis and for axialmovement toward said second members and said first member and having aseat in one end thereof directed toward the adjacent second member forsupporting one end of a spool for rotation therewith;

means for moving said third member axially toward said second membersand said first member to clamp the spools therebetween and beinterconnected thereby for rotation of all of said members and thespools together; and

means for rotating said first member.

6. An apparatus for winding material onto spools, which comprises:

a frame;

a first spool supporting member mounted on said frame for rotation aboutan axis and against axial movement, said member having means forsupporting one end of a first spool for rotation about said axis and forestablishing a driving connection therewith:

an element mounted on said frame for movement parallel to said axis;

a sec-0nd spool supporting member mounted on said element for rotationabout said axis and for axial movement with said element, said secondspool supporting member having means at one end thereof for supportingthe other of the first spool for rotation about the axis and forestablishing a positive driving connection therewith and said secondspool supporting member having means at the other end thereof forsupporting one end of a second spool for rotation about the axis and forestablishing a positive driving connection therewith and interconnectingthe spools for rotation together;

a third spool supporting member;

means on said frame for supporting said third spool supporting memberfor rotation about said axis and for axial movement, said third spoolsupporting member having means for supporting the other end of thesecond spool for rotation about the axis, the arrangement of said spoolsupporting members being such as to permit the assembly and supportingof the first and the second spools between adjacent ones of said spoolsupporting members and the interconnection of all of said spoolsupporting means and the spools for rotation together;

means for moving said third spool supporting member axially to aposition for holding the spools and said spool supporting members inengagement with one another; and

means for rotating said first spool supporting member to impart rotationto all of said members and the spools.

7. An apparatus for simultaneously winding coils on a plurality ofheaded spools, which comprises:

a plurality of spool supporting means;

means for supporting said plurality of spool supporting means forrotation about an axis and in axially spaced relation to one another,each spool supporting means having a first spool engaging meansrotatable therewith at one end thereof for supporting one end of a spooland effecting a driving engagement between the spool and said spoolsupporting means and having a second spool engaging means rotatabletherewith at the other end thereof for supporting the other end ofanother spool for rotation and for efiecting a driving engagementbetween the spool and said spool supporting means, said first spoolengaging means of one spool supporting means and said second spoolengaging mean of an adjacent spool supporting means cooperating tosupport a spool therebetween, and said first and said second spoolengaging means of adjacent spool supporting means being supported forrelative axial movement therebetween to permit the insertion of a spooltherebetween;

means for maintaining said first and said second spool engaging means inengagement with the spool; and

means for rotating one of said spool supporting means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS STANLEY N. GILREATH, PrimaryExaminer.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent N0.3,337,145 August 22, 1967 George B. Keck t error appears in the abovenumbered pat- It is hereby certified the hat the said Letters Patentshould read as ent requiring correction and is corrected below.

line 5, for "compromises" read comprises Column 4,

- axial line column 5, line 2, after "relative" insert 9, for "spools;"read spools Signed and sealed this 13th day of August 1968.

(SEAL) Edward M. Fletcher, J r.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer

1. AN APPARATUS FOR WINDING MATERIAL ON SPOOLS, WHICH COMPROMISES: APLURALITY OF SPOOL SUPPORTING MEMBERS; MEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID MEMBERSFOR ROTATION ABOUT AN AXIS AND FOR RELATIVE AXIAL MOVEMENT THEREBETWEEN,THE OPPOSING END PORTIONS OF ADJACENT ONES SAID MEMBERS HAVING MEANS FORSUPPORTING AN END PORTION OF SPOOL IN COAXIAL ALIGNMENT WITH SAID AXISAND FOR EFFECTING A DRIVING ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH SO THAT THE SPOOLS MAYBE PLACED BETWEEN AND SUPPORTED BY ADJACENT MEMBERS AND INTERCONNECTEDTHEREBY FOR ROTATION TOGETHER WITH SAID SPOOL SUPPORTING MEMBERS; MEANSFOR HOLDING SAID MEMBERS AND THE SPOOLS IN INTERCONNECTED RELATIONSHIPFOR ROTATION TOGETHER; AND MEANS FOR ROTATING ONES OF SAID MEMBERS TOIMPART ROTATION TO ALL OF SAID MEMBERS AND THE SPOOLS SUPPORTED THEREBY